U.S. flags Chinese influence risk in TikTok algorithm deal
Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, said on Thursday that a proposed plan to license TikTok’s core algorithm from its Chinese parent company ByteDance raises “serious concerns” about continued Chinese influence over the platform.
The comment follows ongoing negotiations over the U.S. ownership transfer of TikTok, which was approved under President Donald Trump’s September executive order. The deal allows ByteDance to retain a minority stake below 20% in a new U.S.-based joint venture that would operate the app domestically. Under the current framework, ByteDance would license the algorithm that powers TikTok’s content recommendations to the U.S. entity, which would retrain it on American data under supervision from U.S. security agencies.
Moolenaar said he is awaiting a full briefing on the arrangement but argued that “any continued leverage from China over the algorithm” remains problematic. He called for a complete separation of the technology used by the new TikTok platform from ByteDance’s systems in China.
Moolenaar said he is awaiting a full briefing on the arrangement but argued that “any continued leverage from China over the algorithm” remains problematic. He called for a complete separation of the technology used by the new TikTok platform from ByteDance’s systems in China.
The White House previously stated that the agreement meets the requirements of a 2024 law mandating either divestiture or a nationwide ban of TikTok unless Chinese ownership was reduced. The administration delayed enforcement by 120 days to allow the deal to close. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 25, 2025, stating the deal for the U.S. spinoff meets requirements set by a 2024 law that demanded divestiture or risk of a national ban.
The new U.S. entity will include seven board members, one representing ByteDance. Earlier discussions have also mentioned that Barron Trump, the president’s son, is being considered for a board role as part of the company’s restructuring under U.S. ownership.
The algorithm licensing plan has become a focal point in the debate over the future of TikTok in the U.S., as lawmakers question how much control ByteDance could retain through the licensing arrangement. Concerns center on data access, content moderation, and the influence of Chinese technology within the restructured U.S. platform.
The new U.S. entity will include seven board members, one representing ByteDance. Earlier discussions have also mentioned that Barron Trump, the president’s son, is being considered for a board role as part of the company’s restructuring under U.S. ownership.
The algorithm licensing plan has become a focal point in the debate over the future of TikTok in the U.S., as lawmakers question how much control ByteDance could retain through the licensing arrangement. Concerns center on data access, content moderation, and the influence of Chinese technology within the restructured U.S. platform.
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Sebile Fane cut her teeth in blockchain by building tiny NFT experiments with friends in her living room, long before the buzzwords took hold. She’s driven by a curiosity for the human stories behind smart contracts — whether it’s a small-town artist minting her first token or a DAO voting on climate grants — and weaves technical insight with genuine empathy.
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